Ultimate Whale Sharks 2013, Isla Mujeres / Cancun, Mexico

It doesn’t get much bigger than this. This is your chance to see the largest-known aggregation of the largest fish in the ocean. Before you start, see Eric’s picture gallery here.

Eric Cheng’s aerial footage of the aggregation.
(WARNING: do not play this video—it will make you want to do this trip!).

In August of 2013, Adam Hanlon and Jason Bradley will be running two whale sharks trips to Isla Mujeres in Mexico for Wetpixel. This location is amazing for two reasons: First, the sharks are feeding on transparent fish eggs at the surface, so can be seen in beautiful clear Caribbean waters. And second, the sheer number of sharks is staggering. To quote Eric from the previous Wetpixel trip: “There’s no other way to put it: our first day of photographing the whale shark aggregation was absolutely epic. Within an hour of leaving port, we found a group of over 300 whale sharks”.

There are plenty of places in the world you can see whale sharks, but there is not another whale shark experience like this. You can see Eric’s pictures from the 2011 Wetpixel trip here.

This is one of the hottest experiences in underwater photography at the moment, which, as Jeff Hartog put it on the Wetpixel forums, is “a trip that certainly lives up to it’s reputation”—a total “must do” trip. Also, this is your chance to get one up on Jacques Cousteau, who said he only saw two whale sharks in his whole life.

The deal: Wetpixel has two 6-passenger boats running side by side for the following dates:

Private boat charter with experienced captains, and plenty of space and shade, simple lunch on boat + non-alcoholic drinks, golf cart rental to get around the island (group rental), airport transfers in Cancun to ferry terminal (from and to), tip, hotel, dual occupancy (7 days, 6 nights: 1 day before to 1 day after). Single accommodation or suite available for a supplemental fee. You are responsible for airfare to and from Cancun, ferry cost (not expensive), breakfast, and dinner.

Book this trip

A 50% deposit secures your space, and is refundable only if we re-book your space (minus a $200 cancellation fee). The balance is due 4 months before the trip start date.

Please note that this is a snorkeling trip and therefore suitable for non-divers, as well. This is also a wildlife focused trip and there can be no 100% guarantee the sharks will turn up. Although we are running two trips, most people will see more than enough sharks by coming for just one week.

Ok, and one final video from Eric: count the sharks in this 30 second clip.